A symbolic relationship AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/15/2010

A symbolic relationship

AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 06/15/2010 In the various reports of the proclamation of President and Vice President on June 9, mention was made of the fact that Aquino supporters declined to participate when Binay supporters chanted “Noy-Bi.” True enough. It was also reported that the joint session of Congress voiced no objection to the proclamations. That was perfectly true in that no senator or congressman raised an objection. But, watching the live coverage on ANC, it seemed to me that when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile posed the question, the yellow-garbed Aquino supporters’ chant of “Noynoy!” (at first it sounded like “Mar! Mar!” — a reference to Aquino’s defeated running mate Manuel Roxas II) from the public gallery was issued as a challenge to Binay. Just as significantly — and maybe more so — these chants were met with a thunderous roar of “Binay! Binay! Binay!” from the supporters of the Vice President-elect, whereupon the yellow shirts were silenced. That may prove to have been a very early defining moment. It is, after all, just possible that the relationship between President Noynoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay could symbolize the balance of forces between those intent upon continuing the ruinous agenda of globalization, following a script written by the World Bank Group and the World Trade Organization, and those favoring a more pro-people approach. The pressures upon Aquino, even before he takes the oath of office, must be enormous. Reportedly, he has complained about the office-seekers and advice-givers who have been badgering him since it became clear that he had won the presidency. Yes, being continually nipped by small fry can be extremely irritating, but there are other, considerably larger fish looking for a meal. On the international front, the new US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. has called for China’s role in its relations with the Philippines to be “transparent.” Although that quality has often been lacking in the USA’s relations with this country, on this occasion Ambassador Thomas made US interests perfectly clear when he argued that the South China Sea issue should be addressed by the whole of Asean. These were international waters, he asserted, and US ships had the right to ply them. It may be that Aquino does not consider such comments to be pressure, and that this was just the kind of thing he had in mind when he told the Philippine Star on Feb. 21 that his presidency would see “more cooperation with America to balance strategic forces within the area.”.. MORE     Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100615com5.html

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